US5803043A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Data input interface for power and speed controller
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-08-01
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Granted: 1998-09-08
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Expires: 2016-08-01
Abstract
Abstract A programmable interface which connects to an engine control device and allows convenient entry of engine performance limitation data such as maximum allowable vehicle speed and engine RPM's. Such entered data is stored and processed so as to interface with existing and/or modified engine controllers to produce the desired vehicle performance limitations. Programmable data entry devices include an alphanumeric keypad, a wireless remote keypad, a keychain unit, and an encoded ignition key. Wireless transfer of data can be achieved through RF or light transmitters/receivers, or active and passive transponders/interrogators. Once processed, the data can be used, for instance, to alter or generate pulse trains which control ignition spark, fuel injection, or carburetion.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry Bayron
- 👤 Neil Winthrop
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:32
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P9/00; F02P9/002; F02P9/005; F02P11/00; F02P11/04; F02D; F02D2400/00; F02D2400/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
An apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine electronic control unit (ECU) having a throttle control, said apparatus for purposes of allowing the owner of a vehicle to limit the performance aspects of said vehicle's performance for purposes of limiting said vehicle to a particular performance level, said ECU having an input for receiving signals from a user interface keypad for programmably inputting engine performance limitation data, security codes, and user identification codes, said ECU processing a plurality of input signals to produce control signals for a plurality of engine control devices.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
An apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine electronic control unit (ECU) having a throttle control, said apparatus for purposes of allowing the owner of a vehicle to limit the performance aspects of said vehicle's performance for purposes of limiting said vehicle to a particular performance level, said ECU having an input for receiving signals from a user interface keypad for programmably inputting engine performance limitation data, security codes, and user identification codes, said ECU processing a plurality of input signals to produce control signals for a plurality of engine control devices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine electronic control unit (ECU) according to claim 1, wherein said user interface means includes an alphanumeric or numeric keypad with a display window, whereby engine performance limitation data, security codes, and user identity codes can be programmably keyed into said keypad.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine electronic control unit (ECU) according to claim 1, wherein said engine control device includes an ignition control device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine electronic control unit (ECU) according to claim 1, wherein said engine control device includes a fuel injection controller.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device having a throttle control, said apparatus for purposes of allowing the owner of a vehicle to limit the rpm, speed, or power of said vehicle's engine performance for purposes of limiting said vehicle to a particular performance level, said apparatus comprising: a user interface keypad for programmably inputting engine performance rpm, speed, or power limitation data, a memory and processor means for receivably storing and processing said limitation data, said processor means producing engine control signals which are used by said vehicular engine control device to effectuate said performance limits on said engine.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device having a throttle control, said apparatus for purposes of allowing the owner of a vehicle to limit the rpm, speed, or power of said vehicle's engine performance for purposes of limiting said vehicle to a particular performance level, said apparatus comprising: a user interface keypad for programmably inputting engine performance rpm, speed, or power limitation data, a memory and processor means for receivably storing and processing said limitation data, said processor means producing engine control signals which are used by said vehicular engine control device to effectuate said performance limits on said engine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 5, wherein said throttle control device produces a signal value below a fixed throttle position sensor value which corresponds to said performance limits, regardless of the throttle being positioned past said fixed throttle position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 5, wherein said throttle control device limits the range of the throttle as based upon said performance limits.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 5, wherein said control device further includes a clock means, said engine control device thereby limiting access to said vehicle through said programmable user interface means as conditioned upon the time of day.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 5, wherein said user interface keypad is further defined as an alphanumeric or numeric keypad with a display window, whereby security codes, engine performance limitation data, and user identity codes can be programmably keyed into said keypad.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 9, wherein said keypad includes a security lock-out which is activated upon entry of a plurality of incorrect security codes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 9, wherein said keypad can be detachably mounted inside the vehicle for convenient access by the user.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 9, wherein said keypad is incorporated into a wireless remote unit and said user interface means includes a vehicularly-mounted receiving means, said wireless unit having a transmitter means for transmitting engine performance limitation data to said receiving means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 12, wherein said transmitting and receiving means includes a radio frequency transmitter and receiver.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 12, wherein said transmitting and receiving means includes an encoded optical transmitter and a corresponding optical receiver device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 5, wherein said user interface keypad is in the form of a keychain-attachable pushbutton unit with user-selectable pre-encoded performance limitation data and related indicators for indicating the user's selection, said keychain unit having an internal sending means, said interfacing means having a vehicularly-mounted receiving means for transferring data from said keychain unit to said receiving means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 15, wherein said sending and receiving means includes a radio frequency transmitter and receiver unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 15, wherein said sending and receiving means includes an active transponder and interrogator unit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 15, wherein said sending and receiving means includes a passive transponder and interrogator unit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 15, wherein said sending and receiving means includes an infrared transmitter and receiver.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 5, wherein said user interface keypad is accompanied by an ignition key having engine performance limitation data encoded by an encoding means and stored onto said key and a corresponding reader in the proximity of the key slot for extracting said data stored upon said key.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 20, wherein said engine performance limitation data includes limitations on vehicular speed and engine RPM's.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 20, wherein said engine RPM's are limited as dependant upon the gear selected.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 20, wherein said engine control device includes an ignition control device which receives vehicle speed and engine RPM limitation data, and receives vehicle speed and engine RPM sensor signals and processes the spark pulses to the engine to produce the desired performance limitations.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 23, wherein said ignition control device includes interface circuitry means for receiving said limitation data and sensor signals, a processor, and a pulse gate, whereby said pulse gate receives an incoming sparkplug pulse train and said processor conditions and gates said pulse train to produce the desired performance limitations.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
90 words
The apparatus for interfacing with a vehicular engine control device according to claim 23, wherein said ignition control device has a distributor and primary coil and includes interface circuitry means for receiving said limitation data and sensor signals, a processor, an input pulse interface means, and an output pulse generator, whereby pulses from said distributor enter the input pulse interface and are processed with said data and sensor inputs, said processor controlling said output pulse generator to produce pulses to said primary coil to thereby produce the desired performance limitations.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-07 | 2002-03-09 | 2002-09-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-07 | 2006-03-09 | 2006-09-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-07 | 2010-03-09 | 2010-09-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |